Cooperative Learning: A New Approach.

A recently completed follow-up study of agricultural education graduates at Utah State University underlined the need to teach students transferable as well as technical skills (Nelson and Long, 1988). When asked, "What is the single most important skill or knowledge needed for success in your job?," most respondents cited communication skills. We in vocational agriculture are justifiably proud of the contribution that parliamentary procedure and speech contests make to those important skills, but is it enough? Those students who need this kind of experience the most are often last to volunteer for team practice. Thus, we fine tune the skills of those who are already better able to think on their feet and to communicate rather than those who need such practice most. One obvious recourse is to provide more practice for students in class discussion. Our FFA contests reflect our curriculum as teams are prepared within the classroom. This is good; but traditionally our schools focus on competitive and individualistic student interaction. One extremely useful learning structure often overlooked by vocational educators called "cooperative learning" provides for student interaction in a way that dramatically increases discussion and critical thinking without sacrificing achievement. Cooperative learning is a set of instructional strategies in which students are grouped in teams where they work together toward a common goal.